This weekend we begin the season of Advent and a new liturgical year. We are on a three year cycle for our Sunday readings, and each cycle features a different Gospel. This is year C so we read Luke’s Gospel. (We read Matthew’s Gospel in year A and Mark’s Gospel in year B. We read John’s Gospel primarily during the Easter season and to supplement Mark’s Gospel, which is the shortest Gospel.)

In our Gospel this weekend, Luke speaks about the end times. This type of literature is known as apocalyptic literature. Usually it was written to people who were suffering persecution. It uses very vivid, symbolic language to offer people hope during this time of persecution. It reminded them that despite the sufferings of the present, all eventually would be well. It also cautioned people not to lose heart but to stay true to God. This is the message of today’s Gospel. “But when these signs begin to happen, stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.”

Our first reading this weekend is taken from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. The section we read this weekend offers hope to the people of Israel during a time of when they were being threatened by outside forces. The words of Jeremiah remind them that God will be true to God’s covenant and the promises God made to their ancestors. “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah ……………….In those days, Judah shall be safe and Jerusalem shall dwell secure.”

Our second reading this weekend is taken from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians. In the section we read this weekend, Paul prays that the Lord will make the Thessalonians “increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we have for you, so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his holy ones.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

Why are so many people fascinated with the end times?

What gives you hope and/or confidence that God will be true to his promises?

What do you think Paul means when he prays that people’s hearts will be strengthened?

With this column I would like to update you in regard to several areas of our parish’s life.

1. Our Parish Finances: First and foremost, I want to thank to all those who have made a commitment of financial support to our parish community during our financial stewardship campaign this fall. Please know your commitment of financial support to our parish community is greatly appreciated. Your pledge—no matter the size—is important and makes a difference. It allows us to continue to offer the many programs, ministries and services that are the hallmark of our Basilica community.

In regard to our parish finances, as I write this column we are behind in our anticipated income at this point in our fiscal year. Our finance committee monitors our income and expenses closely so that, if it becomes necessary, we can make the appropriate decisions about balancing our parish budget.

I am hopeful that with our collections at Christmas and with year-end giving we will be back on track with our projected income. Thank you to all of those who support our Basilica community financially. Please know of my great gratitude for your ongoing financial support.

2. Advent and Christmas Events/Activities at The Basilica: As we move into the Season of Advent and Christmas, there are several events/activities at The Basilica which you are invited to attend.

On Sunday, December 9 we will hold our annual Global Fair Trade Market from 8:30am to 3:00pm. Great gifts will be available from local vendors, just in time for Christmas giving.

Taizé prayer, with the opportunity to celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation, will be celebrated in the lower level of The Basilica on Tuesday, December 11 at 5:30pm.

On Sunday, December 16 our Cathedral Choristers, Children’s Choir, Cherubs, and Juventus as well as the children of the Learning Program will present Room for Christmas by Mark Burrows. The musical combines original songs and familiar carols from around the world to tell the story of the Incarnation. The musical will be presented in the lower level of The Basilica after the 9:30 and 11:30am Masses.

The Basilica will also be hosting Messiah on Thursday, December 20 at 7:30pm and Friday, December 21 at 8:00pm. For more information about these performances visit thespco.org. To reserve your ticket for the December 21 performance contact Holly Dockendorf.

Finally, we hope you will plan on joining us for one of our Masses on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. Our Mass schedule is available on our website.

3. Sanctuary Supporting Congregation: As I have mentioned previously, one of the values we strive to live every day at The Basilica is compassion. As such, we become aware of our shared brokenness, and we deeply respect all of God’s people and gratefully welcome all as Christ as we share hospitality, love, acceptance and care. We are a community serving the needs of people in our community. Every day we provide basic tangible and physical resources such as sandwiches, clothing, toiletries, shoes, bus cards, help with I.D. cards and assistance with transportation.

A few months ago our parish leadership made the decision that The Basilica would become a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation. In becoming a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation, we would continue to do what we currently do for those who come to our St. Vincent de Paul Ministry, many of them from Ascension, our sister parish in north Minneapolis. We would also continue our advocacy work and our prayerful support particularly for those who are on the margins and in need. The difference would be that we would be named as part of a network of congregations that are committed to supporting this work.

Now admittedly, in today’s world, the word “Sanctuary” may come with a lot of baggage. It may be helpful to note, though, that it shares the same root as the Latin word: “Sanctus,” which means holy. Jesus has told us that “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, you do for me.” Additionally, on his trip to Colombia this past September Pope Francis called on Catholics to “promote the dignity of all our brothers and sisters, particularly the poor and the excluded of society, those who are abandoned, immigrants and those who suffer violence and human trafficking,” Responding without judgement to the needs of those who come to our doors is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus Christ.

Becoming a Sanctuary Supporting Congregation is very different form being a Sanctuary Congregation. Being a Sanctuary Congregation requires additional commitments that could put The Basilica at some legal risk. As your pastor, I cannot do that in this circumstance. This is why our leadership has been carefully evaluating Sanctuary Supporting Congregations, which have significantly fewer commitments and would serve as a way to continue to compassionately serve a community in need and as an outcome of living our faith.

I would encourage anyone who has questions or concerns about this issue to take them to prayer. If after praying about them, you would like to share them with me or with a member of our parish council, you can contact us through our parish website. As we continue to discuss this important issue we will need your thoughts and your prayers to do what is right for our Parish and to follow our faith calling.

4. 150th Anniversary of our Parish: This year our parish celebrates its Sesquicentennial. 150 years ago the Church of the Immaculate Conception was founded in Minneapolis. The first Mass was celebrated on October 4, 1868. (When the parish outgrew its original site, seven lots were donated at 16th Street and Hennepin Avenue in 1904. The cornerstone of The Basilica, which was initially known as the Pro Cathedral, was laid in 1908, and the first Mass was celebrated in The Basilica on May 31, 1914.)

We kicked-off a year long celebration of our 150th anniversary on Sunday, September 30. Archbishop Hebda presided at the 9:30 and 11:30am Masses that day.

Throughout the coming year there will be a variety of events, activities and exhibits to celebrate our Sesquicentennial as a parish. I invite you to attend as many of these as you are able as we celebrate 150 years of faith.

Two events in particular I would like to note are a reunion for all couples who were married at The Basilica. This Marriage Reunion will take place on Saturday, February 23, 2019. There will also be a School Reunion for former students of The Basilica School. This reunion will take place September 7, 2019.

5. Updating our Parish Strategic Plan: As I have mentioned in previous bulletins, several months ago we received approval from our Finance Committee and Parish Council to engage the services of the MacCallum Ross company to help us begin the process of developing a new strategic plan for our parish. (Our previous plan carried us through spring of 2018.)

The reason we engage in strategic planning is simple. “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29.18). If we don’t consciously and prayerfully plan for our future, we are at risk of drifting into a future not of our choosing and certainly not of our making.

I am pleased to report that at the October meeting of our Parish Council our new Strategic Plan was approved. Our new Strategic Plan retains our core Vision, Mission, and Values, and builds on, instead of replacing, the previous strategic plan. There are three Strategic Areas of Focus in our new Plan:

Art: move, inspire, and transform individuals and communities through excellence in the arts and creative practices.

Inclusivity: build a culture where people feel valued, welcome, integrated, and included.

Homelessness: respond to the needs of people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

This plan will serve as a road map to guide and direct our efforts for the next three to five years. Our efforts will help us identify those ministries, programs, services, etc. that are important and necessary for our parish community. If you would like to review a copy of our new Strategic Plan, please call the parish office.

6. Special Collections: While no one is fond of special collections, it is heartening for me to report that the people of The Basilica have been very generous to the last few special collections here at The Basilica.

On the weekend of June 17 and 18, $9,679 was contributed to help defray the cost of air conditioning The Basilica during the hot summer months.

On the weekend of July 28 and 29, $10,835 was contributed to help fund our St. Vincent de Paul Ministry.

On the weekend of September 15 and 16, $9,514 was contributed to help fund our St. Vincent de Paul Ministry.

The contributions to these collections testify to the generosity of the people of The Basilica. Please know of my gratitude for your generous response to these collections.

7. Campus Space Planning: As I mentioned previously, a few months ago The Basilica Landmark approved funding for the hiring of a liturgical space planning consultant. Fr. Gil Sunghera S.J. was hired and has been working with our Campus Space Planning Committee to build a vision for our campus spaces that will help us welcome the community and our guests. Fr. Gil is on staff at the University of Detroit Mercy and works with their School of Architecture.

Some of the important issues/concerns that will need to be considered are accessibility, making The Basilica and its campus more open and welcoming, and renovating and updating the interior of The Basilica.

This process of developing a master plan for The Basilica and its campus continues as I write this column. It will also occur concurrently with the development of our new strategic plan. We will share more information about this important work as we move forward.

8. The Basilica App is Now Available: To get the App you go to the App Store and download MyParish. Once you download it, you search for Basilica of Saint Mary. The App was launched to the parish beginning on November 4. The App has message notification and group messaging features that we will be expanding soon. It is our hope that the App will help us keep in touch with people and make it easier for people to find out everything that is happening at The Basilica.

This coming Sunday we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. This Feast was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925. Seeing the devastation caused by World War I, Pius established this Feast as a way to remind people that Christ is Lord of both heaven and earth. Initially this Feast was celebrated on the last Sunday in October, but when the Roman Catholic Church revised its liturgical calendar in 1969 it was moved to the last Sunday of the liturgical year. (The new liturgical year always begins with the Fist Sunday of Advent.)

Our readings this Sunday have an apocalyptic tone. As I have said previously, apocalyptic writing is very stylized. It uses vivid imagery and dramatic language, as well as visionary and prophetic images to make its point. Apocalyptic language was used in times of trail or difficulty to assure people that despite the suffering of the present moment, God was with them and ultimately would triumph. Apocalyptic literature is not meant to be taken literally.

Our Gospel this Sunday is taken from the Gospel of John. It is the scene of Jesus before Pilate. Pilate asks Jesus: “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus reminds Pilate and us that “My kingdom does not belong to this world.” While ostensibly Pilate is in charge of this encounter, from John’s perspective (and ours) Jesus is the one who is in control.

Our first reading this Sunday is taken from the Book of the Prophet Daniel. It is part of Daniel’s vision in which he saw “one like a Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven” to be present to the “Ancient One.” We would see this language as prefiguring Christ.

Our second reading this Sunday is taken from the Book of Revelation. It is a hymn of praise for Christ. “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, who had made us into a kingdom, priests for his God and Father, to him be glory and power forever and ever. Amen.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

We aren’t big on royalty in the United States. How would you explain Christ the King to an unbeliever?

What would you say to someone who takes a literal approach to apocalyptic literature?

What are the hallmarks of one who tries to live as a member of the Kingdom of God?

It seems that every few years someone predicts that the world will end on a specific date, or in a particular year. So far all of these predictions have been wrong, but that hasn’t stopped people from continuing to predict the end of the world.

In our Gospel this Sunday, Jesus talks about the end times. He said: “In those days after that tribulation the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the starts will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in the clouds’ with great power and glory, and then he will send out his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.” This imagery is vivid and stark. It reminds us that the end times will come and there will be a summation of the world and a time of judgment.

It is important to remember, though, that at the end of this Gospel Jesus also says: "But of that day or hour, no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” These words remind us that while we do believe that the world will one day come to an end, we shouldn’t spend our time wondering and worrying about when it will occur. Rather, we should live our lives in such a way that we will be prepared whenever it comes.

Our first reading this weekend is taken from the Book of the Prophet Daniel. It too speaks of the end times. It also is hopeful, though. For the closing verse of today’s reading says: “But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendor of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever.”

For our second reading this weekend, we continue to read from the Letter to the Hebrews. Today’s selection contrasts the Jewish priests of the Old Testament with Jesus Christ: “But this one offered one sacrifice for sins, and took his seat forever at the right hand of God:”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

Why do you think people continue to predict the end of the world?

If you knew the world was going to end at a certain point in the future, what would you do differently?

If you would do something differently if you knew the end of the world was coming, why aren’t you doing that now?

Our Gospel this weekend opens with Jesus sitting opposite the temple treasury. He watched as people put money in the treasury. In fact, “Many rich people put in large sums.” Then “a poor widow also came and put in two small coins worth a few cents. Calling his disciples to himself, he said to them, ‘Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood.’”

It is easy to be generous when we have a surplus. As Christians, though, the challenge for us is to give from our hearts, not from our surplus. We are called to share generously --- whether it be our money, our time, our possessions, our care and concern, whatever it might be --- we are called to share simply because we are able to do so. As followers of Jesus we are to share our blessings because we recognize that we have been blessed.

Our first reading this weekend from the first Book of Kings shares the theme of the Gospel. We are told that Elijah went to the home of a widow in the town of Zarephath. He asked her for a cup of water and a bit of bread. She told him that she had “only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug.” Elijah told her not to worry to “make a little cake and bring it to me……………For the Lord, the God of Israel says, ‘The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.’” As a result of her generosity in sharing what little she had, “She was able to eat for a year and her son as well; the jar of flour did not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry.”

We continue to read from the Letter to the Hebrews in our second reading this weekend. It reminds us “so also Christ, offered once to take away the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to take away sin but to bring salvation to those who eagerly await him.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

Can you recall a time when you shared/gave more than you had anticipated? What motivated you to do this?

Why does sharing seem to be easier for some people than for others?

How would you describe salvation to someone who comes from a non-Christian background?

Our Gospel this Sunday is very familiar. For this reason it would be easy not to give it a lot of thought or attention. It is such an important Gospel, though, that I would hope we would take a few moments to really listen to it so that we can realize anew its important message.

As this Gospel opens we are told that “one of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him. “Which is the first of all the commandments?’” Now this would not have been an unusual question. At the time of Jesus there were over 600 commands, precepts, and prohibitions in the Jewish law. Rabbis were often asked about the relative importance of these various commands. What is unusual is Jesus’ answer. Jesus does not give just one commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all you soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” but two: “The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” At this point, we are told that the scribe who originally approached Jesus told him these two commandments are “worth more than all burnt offering and sacrifices.” Jesus then said to him: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”

Now certainly both of these commandments had always been part of the Jewish religion. What was unique in this instance is that Jesus yoked them together. In essence he was reminding people we can’t love the God we do not see, if we don’t love the neighbor we do see.

Our first reading this Sunday from the Book of Deuteronomy, provides the background for the Gospel. In that reading Moses told the people: “Hear O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heat, with all your soul, and with all your strength.”

Our second reading this Sunday is again taken from the Letter to the Hebrews. It contrasts Jesus, our high priest, with the priests of the Old Testament: “He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; He did that once for all when he offered himself.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

It is easy to say we love God, but how do we know when we really love God?

Why is it so much easier to love the God we cannot see, then to love the neighbor we do see?

I love the image of Jesus offering himself for us. How would you explain this concept to someone who doesn’t come from a Christian background?

In this Sunday’s Gospel we encounter Bartimaeus, a blind beggar, who on hearing that Jesus was near began to shout: “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” Several people rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he was undeterred. He kept calling out all the more; “Son of David, have pity on me.” When Jesus heard him, he called him over. In response we are told that Bartimaeus “threw aside his cloak, sprang up and came to Jesus.” Jesus then asked him: “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus’ response was immediate and clear. “Master, I want to see.” Jesus then healed him, and Bartimaeus “followed him on the way.”

There are three important moments in this story. The first is Bartimaeus’ persistence in calling out to Jesus. This reminds us that we too need to be persistent when we cry out to Jesus in prayer. We need to remember, though, that persistence in prayer always needs to be combined with an openness to how God might respond to that prayer. Second, I believe the fact that Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak is important. For a beggar a cloak was vitally important. Not only was it the target where people could throw their alms, but it was his shelter during the cold night. By throwing aside his cloak Bartimaeus was clear that he didn’t want anything to hinder him from coming to Jesus. Third, notice that after he was cured, Bartimaeus did not go his own way, but rather “followed” Jesus on his way. The encounter with Jesus was so life changing for Bartimaeus that Jesus’ way became his way.

Our first reading this Sunday is taken from the Book of the Prophet Jeremiah. It announces the return of the Israelites from the Babylonian captivity. “I will gather them from the ends of the word, with the blind and the lame in their midst.”

In our second reading this Sunday we continue to read from the Letter to the Hebrews. In the section we read this weekend we are reminded that Jesus was chosen by God to be our high priest and to intercede for us: “it was not Christ who glorified himself in becoming high priest, but rather the One who said to him: You are my son; this day I have begotten you;”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

Bartimaeus would not let anyone deter him from calling out to Jesus. Have you ever let anyone or anything keep you from calling out to Jesus?

In the Gospel Bartimaeus threw aside his cloak so that it would not hinder his effort to get to Jesus. What do you need to throw aside in order to follow Jesus?

Some times it takes us a while to “get it.” That was certainly the case with the disciples in our Gospel for this weekend. In the verses immediately preceding this Gospel Jesus has told his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem where the chief priests and the scribes will “hand him over to the Gentiles who will mock him and spit at him, flog him, and finally kill him.” These are difficult words, made more so by the fact that this is the third time Jesus had predicted his passion and death. And yet his disciples, in particular James and John, still don’t “get it.” Even after hearing these words we are told in our Gospel for this weekend that “James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus and said to him, ‘Teacher, we want you to do for us whatever we ask of you.’ Jesus replied, ‘What do you wish me to do for you?’ They answered him, ‘Grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left’” Jesus rebuked them and then reminded them that his disciples will find their greatness in suffering and service.

Our first reading this weekend is taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah. As was the case several weeks ago, the section read this weekend is part of the Song of the Suffering Servant. This “song” provided an important basis for our Christian understanding of the mystery of Christ’s suffering and death. The section we read this weekend reminds us that life can come out of suffering. “Because of his affliction he shall see the light in fullness of days, though his suffering, my servant shall justify many, and their guilt he shall bear.”

For our second reading we continue to read from the Letter to the Hebrews. It reminds us that, although Jesus is our high priest, he is able to “sympathize with our weakness” because he “has similarly been tested in every way, yet without sin.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

How would you respond if someone asked you why innocent people suffer?

“Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” This was the question the man in our Gospel this Sunday posed to Jesus. (If we are honest, I suspect that, if we had the opportunity, all of us would love to ask Jesus this question.) Jesus responded to the man by reminding him of the commandments. But the man told him: “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” We are then told that Jesus looked at him, loved him and said to him: “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” In response to this, we are told: “At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions.”

I think there are a couple things that need to be said about this Gospel. First, the man was obviously very sincere in his question. I also have to wonder, though, if he wasn’t looking for just “one” thing he could do to guarantee that he would inherit eternal life, and then he could live and do as he pleased. The reality is, though, that we have to do more than “one” thing to inherit eternal life. Following Jesus impacts all the whole of our lives --- all that we say and do. Second, though, I think we also need to be clear that selling all that he had and giving it to the poor was ultimately what the man in this Sunday’s Gospel had to do in order to follow Jesus. For each of us there is something that ultimately we will have to do follow Jesus. What this is will be different for each person.

Our first reading today from the Book of Wisdom, shares the theme of the Gospel. It reminds us that riches are deemed nothing in comparison to having prudence and wisdom.

In our second reading today from the Letter to the Hebrews we are reminded that: “the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

The man in our Gospel this weekend was asked to sell what he had and give to the poor in order to follow Jesus. What do you think Jesus is asking you to do in order to follow him?

Our Gospel this weekend comes in two sections. In the first half of this Gospel Jesus talks about the difficult issue of divorce. The occasion for Jesus’ teaching was a question by the Pharisees: “Is it lawful for a husband to divorce his wife?” Jesus responded to their question by asking them what Moses had taught. They replied correctly that Moses had permitted divorce, but Jesus told them that it was “Because of the hardness of your hearts” that Moses did this. Jesus then went on to remind them that when God has joined two people together this union is blessed and sanctified by God and “what God has joined together no human being must separate.” In the second half of this Gospel, we are told that people were bringing their children to Jesus to have him touch them. When his disciples rebuked them, Jesus told them: “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

The theme from the first half of the Gospel is echoed in our first reading today which tells the story of the creation of man and woman. The importance of pets notwithstanding, this story reminds us that the “suitable partner” for a human being is another human being.

In both the Gospel and the first reading it is important to point out what is not being said. Jesus did not say that it was okay to criticize or judge those who go through the painful experience of divorce. Jesus did not say that people should stay in abusive relationships. Rather, he spoke about the dignity, goodness and blessedness of the union of those whom God has joined together.

Our second reading this weekend is taken from the Letter to the Hebrews. This letter was probably written somewhere around 90 A.D., which is relatively late compared to most of the other Epistles in the New Testament. It was written to strengthen people’s faith, but also to increase their knowledge and love of Jesus. In the section we read this weekend we are reminded that: “For it is fitting that He, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the leader to their salvation perfect through suffering.”

Questions for Reflection/Discussion:

Has a friend or someone in your family gone through a divorce? How did you respond?

What does it mean to be “childlike” in our relationship with God?

If someone asked you why Jesus had to suffer and die, how would you respond?